In Saddleworth South, Lib Dem John McCann lost the seat he has held since 2006 to Conservative Jamie Curley, who also serves on Saddleworth Parish Council.

Cllr Jamie Curley

Cllr Curley said: “I am very pleased. It’s been a long campaign and there have been lots of issues. And there are lots of issues still to be tackled.

“Now comes a whole plateful of problems and issues for the next four years. I will take those on board and do my best and work with people, not just Saddleworth South but everybody, to find a solution.

“John McCann has been in place for 12 years and he was the sitting councillor. It took a lot of work but I am very pleased.”

Cllr Curley’s election makes him the third Conservative councillor to represent Saddleworth South alongside Cllr Graham Sheldon and Cllr John Hudson.

Meanwhile,Valerie Leach, who has experience as a councillor in Camden, joins Labour councillors Adrian Alexander and Steven Hewitt in representing Saddleworth West and Lees.

Cllr Valerie Leach

She received the most votes on polling day – 1041, ahead of Conservative Andris D’Adamo on 842 and Lib Dem Sam Al-Hamdani on 737, to take the seat previously held by UKIP.

Cllr Leach said: “I am pleased to be elected and I look forward to building on the work Adrian and Steve have already done.

“One of the most important things for me is getting businesses and groups involved the community.

“Most businesses are already involved and people are doing a great job but we can work more to bring in community groups and organisations.”

Overall in Oldham, turnout was 30.597 percent, while in Saddleworth it was: Saddleworth North: 33.98 percent; Saddleworth South: 40.49 percent (highest in the borough); and Saddleworth West and Lees: 31.36 percent.